Crank (Crank 1)

Anticipation swelling,

minute by minute by minute,

you choose to wait even

longer, to ride in the front

car

and finally it’s your turn.

They buckle you in, lock

the safety bar with a jolting clunk!

Hook engaged, the chain jerks

you forward. You start to

climb

crank-crank-crank.

Cresting the top, time

moves into overtime

as you wait for that scant

hesitation, just before you

drop

knowing you can’t turn back.

You know how you feel

at that instant? Well, that’s

exactly how it feels when you

shake hands with the

monster.

No Time Like That First Time

Fire! Your nose ignites,

flameless kerosene

(and, some say, Drano)

laced with ephedrine

you want to cry

powdered demons bite